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Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms Of Adderall
Question: I need help. I think I am going through Adderall withdrawal. I have been taking for about a year. First 10 or 15mg a day. Then 30mg a day. In the last month it was 40mg a day. The last few days I have taken 20mg. I am extremely afraid. I am bipolar. I take the Adderall, Seroquel 200mg, Paxil 40mg, and Lamictal 200mg. I have spent over two years of my life in psychiatric hospitals off and on. There is a lot more I could tell. The fear is killing me. I also have a big job that I need to finish. My confidence is so low that I am telling myself I can't do it instead of taking on the challenge. I have lost my memory. I read where Adderall withdrawal is the worst experience you will ever have (if this is true.) I also read where Adderall withdrawal may take weeks or months to eliminate. My head tingles. I did get manic or hypomanic episodes during the duration. I never got any other kind of high. I understand that Adderall is supposed to help make you concentrate. I couldn't do my work now if I wanted to. Dr. Amen says he has identified seven types of ADD. One of the seven is ADD with anxiety. If that's what I have, then I shouldn't be on it.
If it is Adderall withdrawal should it be tapered? And, if so, how much. What are the side effects of withdrawal and how long will it be before I am clean of it and when will it start? My weight has gone from 140 lbs. to 129 lbs. My head tingles. My appetite has increased, however, I have moved two belt holes thinner. Also I have rapid off the wall thoughts and talk to myself and to my doctor in my head.
If it is Adderall withdrawal should it be tapered? And, if so, how much. What are the side effects of withdrawal and how long will it be before I am clean of it and when will it start? My weight has gone from 140 lbs. to 129 lbs. My head tingles. My appetite has increased, however, I have moved two belt holes thinner. Also I have rapid off the wall thoughts and talk to myself and to my doctor in my head.
Brief Answer:
more prescise information needed. urgent psychiatrist consultation advised
Detailed Answer:
Dear, welcome to HCM
I can understand the distress that you must be through.
From the above given information i could establish that
1 you are feeling extremely low of mood, low confidence and increased distractibility.
2. There is immense emotional turmoil.
We must consider certain conditions like
Drug withdrawal, precipitating of underlying illness, relapse, etc
However, it fails to give a structured information regarding your symptoms.
I would request you to provide me a more precise description of symptoms.
For eg. “ I am feeling extremely low”, “get irritable over trivial issues”, “not able to relax and sleep properly”, ‘Getting ideas about ending life”, etc.
Also describe the symptom in terms of time of onset and manner of progression, etc.
Secondly, i would need to know since how long and how much, and what all medications are you taking?
Any possible event such as change in drug dosage, life stress, etc, that you think must have precipitated this episode.
Any particular investigations you have undergone?
I still would suggest you to see a local psychiatrist urgently, as timely interventions may prevent further complications and nothing can substitute for an in-person work up and examination.
Kindly follow up soon.
more prescise information needed. urgent psychiatrist consultation advised
Detailed Answer:
Dear, welcome to HCM
I can understand the distress that you must be through.
From the above given information i could establish that
1 you are feeling extremely low of mood, low confidence and increased distractibility.
2. There is immense emotional turmoil.
We must consider certain conditions like
Drug withdrawal, precipitating of underlying illness, relapse, etc
However, it fails to give a structured information regarding your symptoms.
I would request you to provide me a more precise description of symptoms.
For eg. “ I am feeling extremely low”, “get irritable over trivial issues”, “not able to relax and sleep properly”, ‘Getting ideas about ending life”, etc.
Also describe the symptom in terms of time of onset and manner of progression, etc.
Secondly, i would need to know since how long and how much, and what all medications are you taking?
Any possible event such as change in drug dosage, life stress, etc, that you think must have precipitated this episode.
Any particular investigations you have undergone?
I still would suggest you to see a local psychiatrist urgently, as timely interventions may prevent further complications and nothing can substitute for an in-person work up and examination.
Kindly follow up soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
You have hit the nail on the button in your first paragraph (#1 & #2). I am scared all the time. I can't out of bed or do anything for that matter. I used to weigh 140 now I weigh 129. My head tingles. I am now taking 10mg of Adderall twice a day. I have come down from 30mg for about ten months and then 20mg twice a day andfor the last month and I have just reduced it to 10mg twice a day. I take 200 mg of Lamictal and 0mg of Paxil in the morning. I have many fears of the future. For the moment I am a CPA. My work scares me and I am afraid that I can't do it anymore. My memory is shot. I sleep at night because I take 200mg of Seroquel at bedtime. I have felt this way for a while. Life stress. Home life. No confidence but I have been that way all my life. Thanks again. I hope this helps you help me. I am hungry all the time now. I don't know to take care of myself. I never have. I have a wife that does everything for me.
You have hit the nail on the button in your first paragraph (#1 & #2.) I am scared all the time. I can't get out of bed till noon or later. I don't sleep then. I just lay there torturing myself. I used to weigh 140. Now I weigh 129. My head tingles. I am now taking 10mg of Adderall twice a day. I have come down from 30mg for about ten months and then 20mg twice a day. I just reduced my intake to 10mg twice a day. I take 200 mg of Lamictal and 40mg of Paxil in the morning. I have many fears of the future. For the moment I am a CPA and work by myself (stress.) My work scares me and I am afraid I can't do it anymore. I talk to myself in my head all day long. I also talk to my doctor and now you in my head. My memory is shot. I sleep at night because I take 200mg of Seroquel at bedtime. I have felt this way a while. Life stress. Home life. No confidence but then againI have been that way all my life. I hope this helps you help me. I am hungry all the time now. But sometimes I still don't want to. I don't know to take care of myself. I never have. I have a wife that does everything for me.
Thank you for your time.
This is not really a follow up question. I take 40mg of Paxil in the morning not 0mg.
You have hit the nail on the button in your first paragraph (#1 & #2.) I am scared all the time. I can't get out of bed till noon or later. I don't sleep then. I just lay there torturing myself. I used to weigh 140. Now I weigh 129. My head tingles. I am now taking 10mg of Adderall twice a day. I have come down from 30mg for about ten months and then 20mg twice a day. I just reduced my intake to 10mg twice a day. I take 200 mg of Lamictal and 40mg of Paxil in the morning. I have many fears of the future. For the moment I am a CPA and work by myself (stress.) My work scares me and I am afraid I can't do it anymore. I talk to myself in my head all day long. I also talk to my doctor and now you in my head. My memory is shot. I sleep at night because I take 200mg of Seroquel at bedtime. I have felt this way a while. Life stress. Home life. No confidence but then againI have been that way all my life. I hope this helps you help me. I am hungry all the time now. But sometimes I still don't want to. I don't know to take care of myself. I never have. I have a wife that does everything for me.
Thank you for your time.
This is not really a follow up question. I take 40mg of Paxil in the morning not 0mg.
Brief Answer:
need to conider few changes in medications
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the information.
Your complaints are suggestive of major depressive episode. Complicating this picture we have a co occurring condition of adderal withdrawal.
Considering the medications you are on the condition of mood disorder like bipolar affective disorder appears very likely.
Now with the date information i have my suggestions to you are-
There is an evidence that your mood symptoms are not controlled by current drugs and their dosage. Here we can consider
An addition of more potent mood stabilisers like lithium, sodium valproate, carbamazepine, etc.(which weighed against the risk-benefit ratio).
1.Increment in the dosage of current medications.
If mood symptoms are very severe, an addition of low dose of antidepressant is suggestible.
2. The associated sleep and anxiety related symptoms needs to be addressed and an addition of benzodiazepine for short term is a good option.
3. Coming to adderal, its utility at this stage of disorder is questionable. And gradual tapering off the drug is suggested. However, one scope for intervention here could be a more fine and gradual tapering can be followed.
4. Lastly, and very important. As this discussion is not within the scope of layman, i suggest you take up this opinion to a local psychiatrist. Besides, a detailed mental status examination and history work -up is warranted, therefore a psychiatric consultation is more advisable.
A proper medication and patience, can definitely restore your mental harmony.
Welcome for any further queries.
Regards,
Dr Pankaj
need to conider few changes in medications
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the information.
Your complaints are suggestive of major depressive episode. Complicating this picture we have a co occurring condition of adderal withdrawal.
Considering the medications you are on the condition of mood disorder like bipolar affective disorder appears very likely.
Now with the date information i have my suggestions to you are-
There is an evidence that your mood symptoms are not controlled by current drugs and their dosage. Here we can consider
An addition of more potent mood stabilisers like lithium, sodium valproate, carbamazepine, etc.(which weighed against the risk-benefit ratio).
1.Increment in the dosage of current medications.
If mood symptoms are very severe, an addition of low dose of antidepressant is suggestible.
2. The associated sleep and anxiety related symptoms needs to be addressed and an addition of benzodiazepine for short term is a good option.
3. Coming to adderal, its utility at this stage of disorder is questionable. And gradual tapering off the drug is suggested. However, one scope for intervention here could be a more fine and gradual tapering can be followed.
4. Lastly, and very important. As this discussion is not within the scope of layman, i suggest you take up this opinion to a local psychiatrist. Besides, a detailed mental status examination and history work -up is warranted, therefore a psychiatric consultation is more advisable.
A proper medication and patience, can definitely restore your mental harmony.
Welcome for any further queries.
Regards,
Dr Pankaj
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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